Folding soft top



March '7, 1967 G B. HALE FOLDING sol-T TOP INVENTOR. afa/v //uf ----wwn Filed Nov. l2, 1964 rlrlllllr;

3,307,566 FOLDING SOFT TOP Gordon B. Hale, Waukegan, Ill., assignor to Outboard Marine Corporation, Waukegan, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 410,590 Claims. (Cl. 13S- 6) The present invention relates to an improved convertible soft top for a vehicle body and, more particularly, to an improved convertible soft top for a boat hull.

According to the present invention, a three-bar linkage system, having an over-center action, is utilized to provide a free-standing convertible top when the latter is in an erected position. The three-bar linkage system has two stable links, one being the boat hull and the other link forming part of the convertible top frame along with a third relatively flexible link.

When the frame is in an erected position, the third link is in a flexed condition, thus creating a force tending to drive the frame against a built-in stop, thereby locking it in the erected position. The frame can be lowered t-o a retracted position, wherein it is resting against the oor or deck of the boat hull. In the retracted position, the third link is again in a exed condition creating a force which tends to raise the frame from the deck of the boat hull. However, the weight of the convertible s-oft top including the frame overcomes this force and holds the frame securely against the deck.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved convertible soft top for a vehicle body and, more particularly, for a boat hull.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a convertible soft top which can be easily raised or lowered.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a convertible soft top which, when raised to an erected position, is locked therein and free standing.

Further objects are to provide a convertible soft top that is compact, lightweight, inexpensive, versatile, trouble-free, rugged, simple, and adaptable for use with any vehicle body and, more particularly, a boat hull.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and the drawings, and in which;

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view showing the improved convertible soft top of the present invention as used in conjunction with a boat hull; and

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1 and showing the convertible soft top in its erected position in full lines and in its retracted position in dotted lines.

Referring now to the drawings for a detailed description of the present invention and, more particularly to FIGURE 2 for this purpose, it will be noted that the convertible soft top, which has been identified broadly by numeral 10, comprises a frame 12 rotatably mounted on a boat hull 14 and a cover 16 carried by the frame 12. Convertible top 10, as shown in the drwaings in its erected position, can easily and quickly be lowered to a retracted position resting on the deck of boat hull 14, as it is shown in FIGURE 2 by broken lines. When in the retracted position, the frame 12 and cover 16 are collapsed into a compact unit occupying little space on the floor of boat hull 14 near the rearward end thereof.

Frame 12 in conjunction with boat hull 14 utilizes, basically,`a three-bar linkage system having two movable links forming part of the frame 12--one link being e United States Patent O ice rigid and the other relatively resiliently flexible. Said twoV links are pivotally connected to each other, and each link, in turn, is pivotally connected to the boat hull 14 at spaced points thereon to provide the frame 12 with two positionsreferred to as no-load positions-wherein no forces are acting thereon. Rotational displacement of frame 12 from either no-load position causes a ilexure of the relatively flexible link through an over-center arrangement which will be described more fully hereinafter.

As the frame 12 is rotated between its no-load positions, flexing of the resilient relatively liexible link progressively increases, as does the force opposing such rotation, until a relatively unstable over-center position midway between the no-load positions is reached. At this position, maximum exing of the flexible link occurs. Rotation past the over-center position causes progressively decreasing exure. The force created by flexing of the link reverses direction as the frame passes through the over-center position. This particular mode of behavior is referred to as over-center action and results from the resiliency of the link. Therefore, the over-center action of frame 12 causes it to return to its nearest no-load position when displaced therefrom.

More specifically referring to FIGURE 2, the frame 12, which is symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of boat hull 14, includes a rst rigid link or member 18 with one end thereof having a pivotal connection 20 to boat hull 14 and a second link or member 22 with one end thereof having a pivotal connection 24 to boat hull 14 disposed below and forward of connection 20-forward direction being towards the bow of the boat hull. Member 22 includes an arched portion 26 affording limited flexibility to the member 22 and straight upper and lower arms or portions 28 and 30 respectively extending therefrom. Lower arm 30 includes pivotal connecti-on 24 and is shorter than upper arm 28. The other end of member 18 is pivotally connected to upper arm 2S by pivotal connection 32 at a point spaced from arched portion 26.

Frame 12, so arranged on boat hull 14, forms a rigid structure which cannot be moved without flexing one or more of its constituents. To best understand the action of frame 12 in raising land lowering cover 16, consider rotating a point coincident with connection 32 about pivotal connection 20; its path would describe an arc generally identified in FIGURE 2 by the letter A. Next, consider rotating that same point about connection 24; its path would describe an arc generally identified by the letter B. From the geometry of the above arrangement, arcs A and B would intersect at two points relatively located near the retracted and erected positions of frame 12. As frame 12 is rotatably translated between these two points, flexible member 22 wants to rotate connection 32 along arc B, and, in turn, rigid member 18 wants to rotate connection 32 along arc A. Since member 22 is relatively flexible, it will be constrained by rigid member 1S from rotating connection 32 along larc B, and, in fact, connection 32 will rotate along arc A. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the distance from the point 24 to the arc A is at a maximum intermediate the retracted and erected positions. This condition causes resilient exure of member 22 to a varying degree as frame 12 is rotated between the points of intersection of arcs A and B. However, when connection 32 is coincident with either of said points of intersection, member 22 is not flexed, and frame 12 is referred to as being in a 11o-load position.

Maximum flexing of link 22 occurs when frame 12 is positioned at a point midway between the no-load positionscalled the over-center position. Rotation of frame 12 off the over-center position and to either side thereof decreasingly fiexes member 22 and creates a force acting in the same direction as the rotation. Accordingly, unless frame 12 is further restrained, said force will rotatably translate it to the nearest no-load position. Therefore, as frame 12 is rot-ated between 11o-load positi-ons, the resulting force due to flexing of member 22 opposes rotation when frame 12 is moving toward the over-center position and conversely supports rotation when frame 12 has passed the over-center position and is moving away therefrom. This peculiar action of frame 12 is referred to as overacenter action.

Now, referring to FIGURE 2, it will be noted that when frame 12 is in the erected position, members 1S and 22 are so disposed with respect to boat hull 14 and each other that a portion of lower arm 30 of member 22 contacts the connection 20 before frame 12 has reached its no-load position. Thus connection 20 acts as a stop preventing frame 12 from reaching its no-load position. Therefore, when frame 12 is in the erected position, member 22 is in a fexed condition resulting in a force securely holding the lower arm 3i? of member 22 against connection 20, thereby locking frame 12 in an erected position wherein it is free standing.

Member 22 is also in a flexed condition when frame 12 is in a retracted position, and because frame 12 has passed the no-load position and is below it, the force created by such flexing tends to raise the frame from the deck of boat hull 14. However, the weight of convertible top including frame 12 opposes this force and holds convertible top 10 securely against the deck of boat hull 14.

Member 22 includes a cross member 34 transversing the underside of cover 16 and attached thereto for supporting same, as by means of loops 35 or the like. yMember 22, which extends upwardly from each side of boat hull 14 and transverses same at some distance thereabove, can Abe one continuous member, or it can consist of several interconnected sections.

For further supporting the cover 16 a member or bow 36 is pivotally connected to the upper arm 28 at a point thereon relatively near connection 32 and extends upwardly therefrom and across the underside of cover 16 to which it is connected, as by means in the form of loops 33. The maximum angle between the members 36 and 22 is controlled by a strap means 37 which holds the two members in constant relative relationship when the top is in the up or erected position. Another member or bow 38 is pivotally connected to the upper arm 2S at 43, which is relatively near arched portion 26. Bow 38 extends upwardly from arm 23 and across the underside of cover 16 near the rearward edge thereof to which it is connected, by any suitable means, as by being wrapped around and stitched to form a loop 39. Members 36 and 38 are folda-ble towards member 28 when frame 12 is lowered to its retracted position, as shown by the broken lines in FIGURE 2.

At its forward edge, the cover 16 is detachably connected, as by snap buttons or the like at 41, to the top of windshield 4th and at its side edges to boat hull 14. Cover 16 is ten'sioned or drawn taut over frame 12 by a tensioning member or strap 42 connected at one end thereof to bow 38. At its other end, the strap 42 is adapted for connection to boat hull 1-4 for applying the desired -degree of tensioning force to cover 16.

Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a boat hull and a converti-ble top including a `frame movable between erected and retracted positions relative to said boat hull, said frame havin-g a first rigid member, a second member having means affording limited flexibility of said second member and a pivot connecting said second member to said first member, meansI pivotally mounting said first member to said boat hull, and means pivotally mounting said second member to said boat hull at a point on said hull spaced from said means mounting said first -member to said boat hull and such that the distance from said pivot to said means -mounting said second member to said boat hull is at a maximum at a position between said erected and retracted positions, and whereby said iiexibility affords movement between said erected and retracted positions.

2. The combination of a boat hull and a convertible top including a frame movable between erected and retracted positions relative to said boat hull, said frame having a first rigid mem-ber, a second member having an arched portion affording limited flexibility of said sec- -ond member at a point on said upper portion spaced from member to said first member, means pivotally mounting said first member to said boat hull, and means pivotally mounting said second member to said boat hull at a point on said hull spaced from said means mounting said first member to said boat hull.

3. The combination of a boat hull and a 'frame movable between erected and retracted positions relative to said boat hull, said frame including a first rigid member, a second member having an arched portion affording limited flexibility of said second member and means pivotally connecting said second member to said first member, means pivotally mounting said first member to said boat hull, and means pivotally mounting said second member to said lboat hull at a point on said hull spaced below said means mounting said first member to said boat hull to provide said frame with noload positions located respectively relatively near its erected position and retracted position.

4. The combination of a boat hull and a first rigid link, means mounting one end of said first link to said boat hull, a second link of limited fiexibility having an arched portion and an upper and lower -straight portion extending therefrom, said upper portion being longer than said lower portion, means pivotally connecting said second link to the other end of said first link at a point on the upper portion of said second link, and means pivotally mounting the lower portion of said second link to said boat hull at a point on said hull below said means mountin-g said first link to said boat hull.

5. The combination of a boat hull and a convertible top including a frame movable between erected and retracted positions relative to said boat hull, said frame having a first rigid member, a second member having means affordinglimited flexibility of said second member and means pivotally connecting said second member to said first member, means pivotally mounting said first member to said boat hull, and means pivotally mounting said Isecond member to said boat hull at a point on said hull spaced from :said means mounting said first member to said boat hull, said second member contacting said mean-s mounting said first member to said boat hull when said frame is in its erected position.

6. The combination of a 'boat hull and a convertible top including a frame movable 'between erected and retracted positions relative to `said boat hull, said frame having a first rigid link, a second link having an arched portion affording limited `iiexibility of said second link and means pivotally connecting said second link to said first link, means .-pivotally mounting said first link to said boat hull, and means pivotally mounting said second link to said boat hull at a point on said hull spaced from said means mounting said first link to said boat hull, said second link being disposed to contact said means mounting said first link to said 'boat hull when said frame is in its erected position.

7. The combination of a boat hull and a convertible top including a frame movable between erected and retracted positions, said frame including a first rigid link, a second link of limited flexibility having an arched portion and an upper and lower portion extending from said arched portion and means pivotally connecting said upper portion of `said second link to one end of said first link, means pivotally mounting the other end of said first link to said boat hull, and means pivotally mounting said lower portion of said second link to said boat hull at a point on said hull spaced below and forward of Said means mounting said first link to said boat hull, said lower portion of said second link being disposed to contact said mean-s mounting said first link t-o said boat hull when said yframe is in its erected position.

8. The invention as set -forth in claim 7 including a first supporting mem-ber, means pivotally connecting said first supporting member to said upper portion of said second member at a point on said upper portion spaced from said arched portion, a second supporting member, and means pivotally connecting said second supporting member to said upper portion of said second member at a point on said upper portion proximate to said arched portion.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 8 including a cover, and wherein -said second member, said first supporting member and sa-id second supporting member each include a cros-s member extending transversely of said boat hull, and means connecting said cover to said cross members.

10. The invention as set forth in claim 9 wherein said boat hull includes a windshield, and including detachable means connecting the forward edge of said cover to said windshield and tensioning means for drawing said cover taut -on said frame, said tensioning means having one end pivotally connected to said second supporting member and the other end having means adapted for detachable connection of said tensioning means to the boat hull.

11. A convertible 4t-op for a vehicle body comprising a cover and a frame for supporting said cover and movable between erected and 4retracted positions relative to a vehicle body, said frame including a first rigid member, means on said first member adapted for pivotally mounting said first member yto a vehicle body for movement between first and second angularly spaced positions, a second member having limited resilient fiexibility, a pivot connecting said second member to said first member, and means on said second member adapted for pivotally mounting said second member to a,vehicle body at a point on thebody spaced from said means adapted for mounting said first member to the vehicle body such that said second member is resiliently flexed to and from a maximum condition of flexure incident to movement of said rst member between said first and second positions and when said first member is located intermediate said first and second positions.

12. A frame for mounting on a vehicle b-ody and movable between erected and retracted positions relative to the vehicle body, said frame including a first rigid membe-r, means on said first member adapted for pivotally mounting said first member to a vehicle body for movement between first and second angularly spaced positions, a second member having limited resilient fiexibility, a pivot connecting said 4second member to said first member, and means on said second member adapted for pivotally mounting said second member to a vehicle body at a point on the body spaced from said means adapted for mounting said first member to the vehicle body such that said second member is resiliently fiexed to and from a maximum condition of flexure incident to movement of said first member between said first and second positions and when said first member is located intermediate said first and second positions.

13. A convertible top for a vehicle body comprising a cover and a frame for supporting said cover and movable Ibetween erected and retracted positions relative to a vehicle body, said frame including a first rigid member, means on said first member adapted for pivotally mounting said first member to a vehicle body, a second member having an arched portion affording limited flexibility of said second member, means pivotally connecting said second member to said fi-rst member, and means on said second member adapted for pivotally mounting said sec ond member yto a vehicle body at a point on the body spaced from said means adapted for mounting said first member to the vehicle body.

14. A frame for mounting on a vehicle body and movable between erected and retracted positions relative to the vehicle body, said frame including a first rigidlink, means on said first link adapted for pivotally mounting said first link .to a vehicle body, a second link having an arched portion affording limited flexibility of said second link, means'pivotally connecting said second 1link to said first link, and means on said second link 'adapted for pivotally mounting said second link to a vehicle body at a point on the body spaced below said means adapted for mounting said first link to the vehicle body to provide said frame with no-load positions located respectively near its erected position and retracted position.

15. A convertible top for a vehicle body comprising a cover and a frame for supporting said cover and movable between erected and ret-racted positions relative to the vehicle body, said frame including a first yrigid link, means 0n said first link adapted for pivotally mounting said first link to a vehicle body a second link of limited flexibility having an arched portion and an upper and lower straight portion extending from said arched portion said upper portion being longer than said lower portion, means pivotally connecting said second link to said first link at a point on the upper portion of said second link, and means on said lower portion of said second link adapted for pivotally mounting said second link to the vehicle body at a point on the `body spaced from said means adapted for mounting said first link to the vehicle body, said second link being disposed to contact said means adapted for mounting said first link to the vehicle body when said frame is in its erected position.

16. A convertitble top for a vehicle body comprising a cover and a frame for supporting said cover and movable between erected and retracted positions relative to the vehicle body, said frame including a first rigid link, means on one end of said first rigid link adapted for pivotally mounting said first link to the vehicle body, a second link of limited fiexibility having an arched portion and an upper and lower straight portion extending from said arched portion, means pivotally connecting said upper portion of said second link to the other end of said first link, and means on said lower portion of said second link adapted for pivotally mounting said second link to the vehicle body at a point on the body spaced below and forward of said means adapted for mounting said first link to the vehicle body, said lower portion of said second link being disposed to contact said means adapted for mounting said first link to the vehicle when said frame is in its erected position.

17. The invention as set forth in claim 16 including a first supporting member, means pivotally connecting said first supporting member to said upper portion of said second member at a point thereon spaced from said arched portion, a second supporting member, and mean pivotally connecting said second supporting member to said upper portion of said second member at a point thereon proximate to said arched portion.

18. The invention as set forth in claim 17 including a cover, and wherein said second member, said first supporting member and said second supporting member each include a cross member extending transversely of the vehicle body, and means connecting said cover to said cross members.

19. The invention as set -forth in claim 18 including tensioning means for drawing said cover taut on said frame, said tensioning means having one end pivotally connected to said second supporting member and the other end having means adapted for detachable connection of said tensioning means to the vehicle body.

20. The combination of a boat hull and a irst rigid link, a second link having limited resilient fiexibility, a pivot connecting said second link to said first link, means pivotally mounting said first link to said boat hull for movement between a first position and a second position spaced angularly from said first position, and means pivotally mounting said second link to said boat hull at a point on said hull spaced from said means mounting said first link to said boat hull such that said second link is resiliently iiexed to and from a maximum condition of iiexure incident to movement of said first link between said first and second positions and when said first member is located intermediate said first and second positions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,463,193 7/1923 Botella a 296-116 2,823,684 2/1958 Sartori 135-6 2,833,296 5/1958 Woodruff 135-6 3,009,471 11/ 1961 Rossiter l135-5 X FOREIGN PATENTS 34,719 9/1929 France. 741,934 2/1933 France.

REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Examiner.

W. E. HEATON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. THE COMBINATION OF A BOAT HULL AND A CONVERTIBLE TOP INCLUDING A FRAME MOVABLE BETWEEN ERECTED AND RETRACTED POSITIONS RELATIVE TO SAID BOAT HULL, SAID FRAME HAVING A FIRST RIGID MEMBER, A SECOND MEMBER HAVING MEANS AFFORDING LIMITED FLEXIBILITY OF SAID SECOND MEMBER AND A PIVOT CONNECTING SAID SECOND MEMBER TO SAID FIRST MEMBER, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID FIRST MEMBER TO SAID BOAT HULL, AND MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID SECOND MEMBER TO SAID BOAT HULL AT A POINT ON SAID HULL SPACED FROM SAID MEANS MOUNTING SAID FIRST MEMBER TO SAID BOAT HULL AND SUCH THAT THE DISTANCE FROM SAID PIVOT TO SAID MEANS MOUNTING SAID SECOND MEMBER TO SAID BOAT HULL IS AT A MAXIMUM AT A POSITION BETWEEN SAID ERECTED AND RETRACTED POSITIONS, AND WHEREBY SAID FLEXIBILITY AFFORDS MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID ERECTED AND RETRACTED POSITIONS. 